About this book

Language: German

In the second volume of the butterfly fauna of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, the families of the butterflies and the spinner-like moths are presented. A total of nearly 83,000 current and historical data points were available for the evaluation. With 305 autochthonous species, the cultivated area has a remarkable biodiversity.

However, this wealth is currently more than ever threatened. Two examples of species extinct in Saxony-Anhalt are reproduced on the back cover. The hebe tiger moth (Arctiafestiva), a resident of the so-called "badlands", has also disappeared all over Germany. Zygaena osterodensis, which in Germany goes by the vernacular name of Platterbsen-Widderchen, was found in light deciduous forests, which have now become dark as a result of nutrient inputs and changes in use. Thus the present fauna is not only a document of the species range, but also its change over time and the underlying causes. Particularly in the case of butterflies and some families of spider-like moths, the negative trends are predominant.